• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Optical mouse USB-to-PS2 adapter mystery

B

BespinReactorShaft

Diamond Member
Has anyone used one of those USB-to-PS/2 adapter thingies to connect a USB optical mouse with a computer's PS/2 port?

It worked when I'm using my home desktop PC. But when I bring it to my workplace notebook (Dell Latitude C600), it stops working (i.e. mouse no longer lights up).

I checked the notebook's PS/2 port with a regular PS/2 ball mouse and it works fine. The notebook is running win2k.

Btw I've also attempted this with other USB optical mice and it still doesn't work with the notebook.

Any ideas what's wrong?

 
How old is the notebook? Does the PS/2 port show both a mouse and a keyboard symbol, or just one of those? I think the optical mouse draws more power than a ball mouse or a keyboard, but the notebook SHOULD provide enough power for an optical mouse.
Just curious - did you try with a wireless one? There, the mouse is supplied by batteries, and the receiver unit does not need a lot of power.
Very strange.
 
The Dell notebook is probably close to 4 years old by now. It was handed down to me by a senior colleague.

Anyway that's what I was also suspecting. Maybe this Dell notebook has a funny voltage level at the PS/2 that just falls short of lighting up an optical mouse.

I have a wireless Microsoft mouse (a useless freebie from Citibank...) but have not tried using it yet.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top